oh wow, I did not expect to see so many posts! Thank you all for leaving comments/advice. I will try to answer each question. As for filtration, no, you are correct their is not any, I perform 10% water changes every other day, they get RO water. I have considered putting a small HOB filter, but I read these fish like still water, so I tried to stick with just an airstone to move the water as little as possible with out it getting "stale(if thats what you call it). I have had the boys, in these tanks for over a year. The girls about 6-8 months, At times the females do exibit some aggression toward eachother, however, it is not prolonged or viscious, it generally appears to be more playful than anything. oh, as for heat, it is provided by the hanging heat emmiter that keeps the iguanas basking area warm. Thier temp is 78 degrees. I hope i have not offended anyone with my set up, I honestly thought I had pretty heathy and happy bettas. So does everyone agree that they should be in bigger tanks? I do have an extra 30gal they could go in with a HOB filter and titanium heater.
I had a little mishap with Viper, I am sooooo sad. He pigged out the other day, not letting the females have hardly any food. He wasn't being violent, just quick, stuffing his little face. Then he went in his cave and I didn't see him again. When I got home from work, I went to do water chang and moved his cave to see how he was feeling and he wasn't there, I moved every thing and found him no where. Theres no holes in the top in which he couldve jumped out, but I still searched everywhere for him, including moving around some things in the tank below to see if maybe he got the feeding lid to open and dropped down into there. I looked on the floor and every where. I cant possibly imagine the girls eating his carcass that quickly, with no remains, I just cannot wrap my brain around what couldve went down with him. I am very sad to lose him, as I have had him for almost 2years now.
If I were to set up the 30 gallon, do you think mercedes would like to have 6 females, or should I just stick to the three he loves? He is very gentle with his ladies, I have yet to have any betta clutches, but I never intended on purposely breeding, though I figured they would, I have just always been told that they are happiest in a species tank with one male and several females. So, I have only ever wanted what was best for my boys. I am so sad at the loss of my viper, he was always such a good boy. I would be to nervous after all I have read on here to replace him with another male, for fear it wouldnt be good to the girls and I would loose them too. Thank you for all your advise, and I will deffinately continue studying betta behavior and appropriate habitat. I always preach how it is good to study before keeping a pet, I honestly believed that this was the best set up for them. Oh, one more about the plants. That should be no problem, I have some in my large tank I could give them, and will purchase more this weekend. Any suggestion on plant types you have found them to like? Thank you all again.
